look at all the colours

how do..?

just newsy bits n pieces right now...

behind the glass
somebody asked me the other day what i wanted for my upcoming birthday. i had no idea what to say. having the installation up and the experience of folks now approaching me as i sip on my specials at the cafe to talk to me as an "artist" (so weird and daunting and quite frankly bizarre) and the aformentioned and still to be processed hanging fest, and so many astounding beautiful people in my life, seems like more gifts than i can bear. and i really mean that. i feel so incredibly thankful. i want for nothing. (not what i 'd say after a bottle of wine but it's not even lunchtime so we'll keep the tone out of the gutter shall we?)

but then: this morning i purchased hot press (irish music magazine - a rare purchase cause it's one of the most editorially annoying magazines in the history of publishing.) not only were the frames on the cover and a thoroughly recommended article inside (although glen's use of the word cunt to describe himself in a disparaging manner had me momentarily purturbed but in context i'll let it go since the point he's making was a brutally honest one. but for the record: name it and reclaim it.) but there was an interview with iain archer, whose new album is just out (he sent chris an advanced copy and we heard it a whiles back, and it was sounding very strong) so the mag was a must buy.

so what do i find? not only is there a new archer album, there's a frames coffee table photo book, behind the glass, just been released on collins press. let's pretend i have a wish list. and a coffee table.

in other things related, that article confirms that the cost was recorded live with very little overdubbing and post production. whaddya know. i was only guessing. but a good guess it was.

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not standing still
for those outside the 26 counties of RoI, 23 october sees the UK release of duke special's songs from the deep forest. save yourself a load of hassle, and head out or go online and buy this for everyone you know as a christmas present. guaranteed to please everyone who hears it, a gem of an album. he's on jools holland on the beeb in november and the 20th anniversary edition of Q magazine has a full page article. go duke. he's off touring europe. jayne and i popped round with mugs of tea in hand to the house the other night so heather could leave the boys sleeping while she went off and bought some vittals for their pack lunches. she said even she's losing track of what city he was in, so i don't feel in any way out of the loop for not knowing where's he got to...

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hands and words that make us whole
last night team fury celebrated canadian thanksgiving. after reading from coupland as a grace, we devoured a feast of:

a 17lb turkey roasted a la nigella lawson
bread and herb stuffing
mashed potato
mashed sweet potato
zucchini bake (recipe to follow soon)
wicked onions (ditto)
gravy made from the turkey juice and red wine

followed by homemade pumpkin pie with maud's poor bear and belgian choc ice cream

lashings of wine and some seriously embarrassing but equally hilarious childhood confessions...

in previous years when sharing this national holiday with folks on this side of the pond, keli had been distressed to find her (if last night's anything to go by, no doubt extremely well fed guests) couldn't come up with anything to be thankful for, with cynical complaints of, 'how can you be thankful a poverty stricken worn torn carbon emisson-induced warming globe?'

team fury stepped up to the mark and gave many a thanks for the small and big things. for the fact we could sit together at that table and simply be together and love one another for who we are. that we had this amazing food to nourish us. that we have health. for the improving health of a loved one. a roof. people in our lives who challenge how we think. for the two amazing boys who clamber over and under us as we sit aorund the table.
out of that nest i hope we learn to turn our thankfulness to give back rather than take from this beautiful yet sorely in need of justice world.

hey to mark. sounds like BC and all in it is treating you well my friend. we look forward to having you back...

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that james alison talk in the previous post is highly recommended reading. i re-read it yesterday afternoon. seriously powerful stuff that's rocking me... in light of his definition, i wonder if community is a whale...

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counter cultural
speaking of being held in being when all is darkness, this link came into my inbox from david d.
for him, like me, and no doubt a whole rake of folks, the shootings in pennsylvania provoked humble respect for a community i suspect probably have a far higher quality of life than most and who one reckons are neither bullshitting themselves or anyone else in their capacity for genuine compassion and forgiveness. a profound example of keeping your excess baggage to a minimum. in the midst of crusades against terrors, these folks represent a kind of pacifist faith-in-action i'd be willing to argue we probably need a whole lot more of. i hope i'd stand up for the rights of these true conservatives to be allowed to live in paradise, here, or in a hereafter.

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i know i believe in people. and they just keep radiating beauty.

be well. keep rocking.

LB,x